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What City People Found Out About 2027 Race
Ahead of the next general elections, Vice President Kashim Shettima has stirred the hornet’s nest when he declared that it would take only a fool to rise up against President at the polls come 2027. His declaration that a second term for President Tinubu is assured has already generated lots of reactions from the public, many of whom have disagreed with him. Shettima, in his characteristic confidence, cautioned opposition elements against attempting to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election, warning that such a move could amount to political suicide.
Shettima gave the warning days ago during the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja.
The former Borno State governor said anyone nursing the ambition to contest against President Tinubu in 2027 was embarking on what he described as a “suicidal mission.”
“Only a fool hell-bent on a suicidal path or an outright impostor can dare to challenge President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election. However, we are in a democracy, and people are free to contest elections,” he said.
Although not originally scheduled to speak at the meeting, Shettima was invited to the podium at the instance of the President to make brief remarks.
He further warned that elections are not won through social media hype, stressing that victory is achieved through strategic alliances, credibility and conviction.
He noted that experience had shown that elections are not won relying on online popularity, emphasizing that visibility on platforms like Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) is not a guarantee for electoral victories.
“Elections are not won by noise or nostalgia. Elections are not conducted on Facebook or Twitter. They are won by coalitions, credibility, and conviction,” he said. Shettima added that President Tinubu’s experience and leadership record place him in a strong position ahead of the next general election.
The Vice President is not the only one that holds this sentiment, many Nigerians, particularly non partisan individuals, have all concluded that, given the way things are going presently in the country, politically and economically, it will surely be a walk in the park for President Tinubu come 2027 presidential elections.
President Tinubu’s re-election bid in 2027 seems to have a strong backing from various groups, especially in the North. The Northern Ambassadors for Renewed Hope and the Yoruba Welfare Group have pledged their support, citing his commitment to unity, stability, and growth. They point to his investments in farming, rural infrastructure, and education as tangible benefits of his reforms
But beyond this, Tinubu has built strong alliances across Nigeria, including the North, with groups like the Arewa Think Tank backing his re-election. His policies are seen as bold and inclusive, with investments in agriculture, infrastructure, and education looking very promising. And despite some dissenting views, many northerners sill insist the North is witnessing unprecedented attention to its needs, with support from minority groups and socio-cultural organizations under President Tinubu.
Many political analysts believe President Tinubu already has a very firm grip of the nation’s political system. He has already made massive incursions into the east where he recorded his lowest performances during the last election by taking deliberate steps to appease the Igbos who clearly did not vote for him 2023. Starting with his appointment of Bianca Ojukwu as Minister of state for Foreign Affairs, which has been seen as a great political move by many, there’s no gainsaying many Igbos are extremely pleased with the appointment.
The appointment of Dave Umahi as Minister of Works, one of the biggest ministeries in the land, also impressed many Igbos. Same goes for the South-East Development Commission, set up to help the south east develop many of its regions devastated during the civil war, has brought joy to many Igbo elites. This is something no government granted them until President Tinubu came.
And indeed, the reforms are starting to yield dividends. Prices of food items such rice, Garri, beans, etc, have all come crashing down. A bag of rice that was sold for as much as 90k up until early part of this year now sells for about 55k, almost fifty percent reduction.. Same with the prices of other items, The naira is slowly and steadily getting stronger against the dollar while the stability in the economy has restored investors confidence. Nigeria’s debt has been significantly reduced while all other indices are showing clearly that we may just have turned the corner.
But what perhaps has been the biggest talking point and President Tinubu’s massive advantage going into the 2027 elections is the gale of defections sweeping across the country. From state governors to Senators and House of Reps members from every part of the country are all moving in droves to the APC. The state governors, particularly, are telling anyone who cares to listen that they may not have been able to do half of what they have achieved in their states if it wasn’t for the money saved from fuel subsidy and spent judiciously by the President.
As at the last count, the PDP had lost seven of its governors to the APC from April 2025 to date.
The six who dumped the party for the APC earlier, were Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Agbu Kefas (Taraba) and Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers).
The Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, was the only one that defected to the Accord Party.
No fewer than two of the four remaining governors in the PDP are being speculated to be on their way out of the party any time soon.
As it is now, those who should know say it will take more than a miracle for either Atiku, Obi or any other person for that matter, to defeat Tinubu come 2027.
For the supporters of Peter Obi and Atiku, the above analysis does not hold water. They insist that Nigerians want a new president and it has to be either Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar. But some Nigerians are convinced beyond doubts that it will be almost impossible for any of these two politicians to dislodge Tinubu from the seat of power. Apart from the fact that things are beginning to fall into place for the President Bola Tinubu led administration, there is nothing coming from the opposition camps that suggests that they are ready for the 2027 presidential elections. To begin with, both opposition parties, the PDP and Labour Party, are in disarray at the moment. The Labour party is embroiled in leadership crisis that appears to be deepening with each passing day, while the PDP is yet to get itself out of the mess bequeathed to it by the Nyesom Wike led G-5 which helped Tinubu secure millions of votes in some key states, including winning in Rivers during the last presidential elections.
In fact, as it is, Peter Obi does not even know yet on which platform he intends to run come 2027 because it is highly unlikely that he won’t leave the Labour Party as a result of the myriads of crises plaguing the party. And in the event that he chooses to stay with the party and contest the 2027 presidential election on the party’s platform, a party that lacks a national structure strong enough to help him win, what miracle is he then hoping for? It was this same lack of party structure that worked against him the last time.
For Atiku Abubakar, the very fact that he’s a Northerner is also a factor that will work against him because of the geopolitics the country gives significant consideration when it comes to who becomes the President. There is an unwritten agreement that allows the rotation of power amongst the major geographical regions. This was what worked largely against Atiku the last time. Buhari, a Muslim northerner, had just finished eight years in power, and Atiku, another northern Muslim, wanted to take over power from him. This was the grouse the G-5 led by Nyesom Wike had against him. It didn’t work for him in 2023, it still cannot work for him in 2027. The understanding is that whichever region is in power would be allowed to do its full term of eight years. According to the unwritten agreement, Tinubu, a southerner, has to be allowed to finish his eight years which will take him to 2031.
Late Dr. Doyin Okupe, former Director-General of Peter Obi Presidential Campaign also expressed his sentiments before he passed on: “Atiku failed in 2023, not because he was not a good person but because people felt that a northern Muslim cannot succeed another northern Muslim after 8 years.
“If Atiku still contests in 2027, he has a right. He is eminently qualified, and one of the best we have. But geopolitics is an issue.
“The conditionality still persists. A Southerner would have just completed four years and needs another four-year term.
“It’s not in the constitution, but we agree that when a northerner does his 8 years, a southerner will also do the same.
“So, the North cannot now terminate the tenure of the South in 2027. It is not going to work,” Okupe said.
– WALE LAWAL (08037209290)
